Academic Calendar

2025-2026 Academic Calendar1

The academic calendar reflects important dates for all Vanguard academic programs. It is based on a 16 week semester term (15 weeks of classes and one week of finals) with two, 8-week and three, 5-week sub-terms therein. This calendar is subject to change by the University Administration.  Questions, contact the Registrar's Office at (714) 662-5200 or via email at records.support@vanguard.edu

For table of add/drop dates and holidays by academic term and sub-term, projected for the next five years, visit the Office of the Registrar webpage

FALL SEMESTER, 2025

Month Date Event
Aug. 21-24 New Student Orientation (Traditional Undergraduates)
25 Academic Term Begins, Monday
25 Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One
26 Convocation, Tuesday
29 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week, Session One
Sept. 2 Labor Day Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday
2 Labor Day Observed (Professional Education Only - Class in Session, Offices Closed)
5 Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session
5 Last Day to Drop Courses Without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
12 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week, Session One
19 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week, Session One
28 5-Week Session One End
29 5-Week Session Two Start
Oct. 3 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week, Session Two
10 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week, Session Two
17 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 16-Week Session and 5-Week Session Two
19 8-Week Session One End
20 8-Week Session Two Start
24 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week, Session Two
31 Last Day to Drop a Course without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week, Session Two
Nov. 3 5-Week Session Two End
3 5-Week Session Three Start
7 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week, Session Three
10-14 Academic Registration for All Continuing Students
14 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three
14 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session 2
26-28 Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes, Offices Closed)
21 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session Three
Dec. 7 5-Week Session Three End
9-12 Final Examinations, Tuesday-Friday
14 Last Day of Fall Term, 16-Week Session and 8-Week Session Two End
24- Jan. 1 Christmas Holiday Break (University Offices Closed)

SPRING SEMESTER, 2026

Month Date Event
Jan. 2 University Offices Re-Open
9-11 New Student Orientation (Traditional Undergraduates)
12 Academic Term Begins, Monday
12 Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One
16 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session One
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, (Professional Education Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed), Monday
23 Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session
23 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8 Week Session One
23 Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-week and 8-Week, Session One
30 Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session One
Feb. 15 5-Week Session One End
6 Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 8-Week, Session One
16 5-Week Session Two Start
16 President’s Day Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday
16 President's Holiday (Professional Education Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed)
20 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Two
27 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week, Session Two
Mar. 8 8-Week Session One End
6 Last Day to Drop a Course without Academic Penalty: 16-Week Session and 5-Week Session Two
16 8-Week Session Two Start
20 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week, Session Two
27 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week, Session Two
29 5-Week Session Two End
9-15 Spring Recess (No Classes, Offices Open), Monday-Friday
27 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session Two
30 5-Week Session Three Start
Apr. 10 Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three
3 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Three
13-17 Academic Registration for All Continuing Students
17 Last day to drop course without academic penalty: 5-Week, Session Three
3 Good Friday, No Classes, University Closed
23 Awards Chapel
30 Baccalaureate Chapel
May 1 Commencement, Thursday
3 5-Week Session Three End
1-6 Final Examinations, Friday, Monday-Wednesday
10 Last Day of Spring Term, 16-Week Session and 8-Week Session Two End

SUMMER TERM, 2026

Month Date Event
May 11 Academic Term Begins, Monday
11 Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One
15 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
22 Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session
22 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
25 Memorial Day Observed (No Classes, Office Closed)
25 Memorial Day Observed, (Professional Education Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed), Monday
29 Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session One
June 5 Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 8-week Session One
14 5-Week Session One End
15 5-Week Session Two Start
19 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Two
19 Juneteenth (19th), No Classes, University Closed
26 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Two
July 3 Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 16-Week and 5-Week Session Two
4 Independence Day (No Classes, University Offices Closed)
4 Independence Day Observed, (Professional Education Only - Classes in Session, Offices Closed)
5 8-Week Session One End
6 8-Week Session Two Start
17 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week Session Two
17 Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week Session Two
19 5-Week Session Two End
20 5-Week Session Three Start
24 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Three
31 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three
31 Last day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session Two
Aug. 7 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session Three
23 5-Week Session Three End
30 Last Day of Summer Term, 16-Week and 8-Week Session Two End
1

Dates of courses offered during summer vary, but fall within the full summer term dates.